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TRIVIA BYTES WEEKEND PREVIEW ... :arrow: NOTE: ALL GAMES OPPONENTS WILL FACE EACH OTHER AGAIN IN WEEK 15.
:arrow: NOTE: Games are played this week on Thursday.
THE TOP TEN .... A TITANIC CLASH
#3 ANCHORAGE visits #10 PORTLAND ... Get this. This game features the #1 and #2 teams for total yards gained per game. Also, #1 and #2 teams for total points scored per game. And the #1 and #3 teams for total passing yards. Can anyone say, ":shoot: in the Portland corral."
Looking at Anchorage, this team is led by Leslie Steiner whose main targets have been WR Scott Sharf for taking control of the real estate and to TE Jamal Strong for scoring. But don't be deceived, the Lynx also bring a very potent running game to the table. Unfortunately, RB Chad Richardson was injured last week and will probably not see action on Thursday. However, his understudy, C.J. Rambo looks to be quite capable of taking over handling the rock from Richardson, as he has averaged 5.0 yards per carry. On defense, All-Pro LB Lenny Olson and All-Pro Ron Hill will try to disrupt the Seal attack. Hill has 10.5 sacks (which is higher that the 9.5 sack he recorded in his all-pro effort of last year. Olson seems to be in every play ... either with a tackle, an assist, a sack, an interceptions or a defended pass.
The Seals are a one point favorite and QB Jay Caro is the key factor to bring that prediction to a reality. His primary targets will be WR Dominc Fields and WR Blake Ameche. No favorites here so double teaming is a guessing game. The Seals do not commit to a running attack as heavily as Anchorage but it seems to be just a potent when they do. Running is by committee of Kerry Glen, Rusty Long, and FB Terrnace Greely. Defensively and like Anchorage, Portland also features an outstanding DE in Brian Adamov (8 sacks) and ILB Cletus Bodnar.
Lynx Head Coach Nathan Rapaport has led Anchorage for the last seven seasons. His teams have missed the playoffs only twice. Seals Head Coach Donnel Mills is in his second season in Portland. Everyone remembers his first season last year. Both will bring their game.
So where are the differences? Special teams show that Portland has the better punting game and punt coverage but that Anchorage has a better kick return game with Preston Benson who has the league's 4th highest kickoff average (31.1 yards) which includes one trip to the house. Field goal kicking is average for both teams. Both teams' offensive lines have had some issues with pass blocking efficiency. Either this is a product of their prevalent passing bias or there is a chink in the armor. TB believes that it will be the quality of the respective armors that will decide the outcome of this game. With this all said, it should be an outstanding game to watch. By the way, Portland leads the series 7-6-1.
oke: DEFCON ALERT -- fair notice to some top ten teams that are heavy favorites!Can #16 HARTFORD unravel the pretty ribbons on #1 NORFOLK's season?
or will #23 TULSA surprise #2 LITTLE ROCK?
Perhaps #26 ORLANDO has enough in the tank to finish off #3 LAWRENCE?
or dangerous #21 LOUISIANA ambushes #4 HOUSTON?
There is a good chance that #31 NEWARK finally finds a win versus the hobbling #6 VERMONT Mountainers.
And it would be shame if #30 SALT LAKE CITY upsets the emerging #7 OAKLAND Devils.
SOME GREAT FOOTBALL and most are with playoff consequences#12 CLEVELAND vs. #11 IOWA CITY
(Both teams are coming off disappointing divisional losses that has caused a knot at the top. This is the first of two games between these two for the division championship)
# 9 ST. LOUIS vs. #13 MURFREESBORO
(Both teams had tough losses last week and both teams can make a good run for a playoff berth starting with a win in this game.)
# 8 LANSING vs. #19 PITTSBURGH
(Pitt has not been the team that we normally see but this an intra-divisional game and this division teams likes to kick each other ass. Lansing needs a W to stay on top.)
#17 DAKOTA vs. #14 MADISON
(see note above, and because of this, both of these teams are still in the hunt.)
# 15 TEXAS vs. #25 GEORGIA
(Texas has been a great story this season and is in control of their own destiny for a playoff berth if they keep on winning.)
#24 WICHITA vs. #27 MONTREAL
(Playing for pride)
#22 CALIFORNIA vs. #21 ALBUQUERQUE
(Teams with the #1 and #10 strength of schedule face off)
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